Concept2 monitor on a non Concept rower?

[Fireball]

I have bought a rowing machine which to the eye, feel, build is exactly the same as a Concept2 but the monitor is very different.

I got it yesterday and broke it in with a steady 30 mins. Normally when I use a Concept2 Rower I get over 7000m where as on this new monitor (Which is very limited functionality) and got little over 2,700m.

Is it possible to get a Concept Monitor from eBay and attatch it to this virtually identical rower?


Many thanks :O)

[Citroen]

It's not possible.

The monitor is factory calibrated (hard coded) for the Concept2 flywheel moment of inertia. You can't change that calibration.

[Fireball]

Thank you :O) - I assumed as much but the rower seems absolutely identical like it's made in the same factory. Even if it's the same build/wheel etc will it 100% still not work?

Thanks again, mate

[Citroen]

If the build was "exactly" the same it would have cost you £850, have a Concept2 label (and decals) on it and already have a PM5.

Concept2 don't make ergos for any other brand, their own kit sells on it's own merit.

[Fireball]

Haha apologies, I'll rephrase ... looks identical. Either way, message received and thank you for your input.

[Ombrax]

FB, I'd suggest that you have two options:

1) Train purely based on heart rate and time with the rower you bought, or

2) Flip the knock-off rower and buy a C2, which will provide real numbers you can trust.

If all you want is a workout, then (1) will work. But if you want anything more than that, I'd go with (2).

Good Luck

[mitchel674]

30 minutes to row 2700m??

Your time may be better spent contacting the maker of your rowing machine regarding how you can properly calibrate their monitor.

[jamesg]

I have bought a rowing machine which to the eye, feel, build is exactly the same as a Concept2 but the monitor is very different.

If you can row correctly and the monitor has a Watt reading, this should be enough. Any other number can be derived.

[Carl Watts]

You say it looks identical but chances are when it comes down to it its not exactly the same.

At the very least you would need a new monitor, new flywheel and new pickup and then be prepared to do the engineering to make it fit. Chances are the shaft the flywheel runs on is also different.

By the time you stuff about with it, its easier just to buy a Concept 2 rower in the first place.

[mict450]

Brand-X...I wonder if it even reads watts, or if it is accurate? Better to rely on HR & RPE.

[MiddleAgeCRISIS]

I have bought a rowing machine which to the eye, feel, build is exactly the same as a Concept2 but the monitor is very different.

I got it yesterday and broke it in with a steady 30 mins. Normally when I use a Concept2 Rower I get over 7000m where as on this new monitor (Which is very limited functionality) and got little over 2,700m.

Is it possible to get a Concept Monitor from eBay and attatch it to this virtually identical rower?


Many thanks :O)

Yes you can do this but you'll need to swap the rower out also. Like triggers broom.

[jamesg]

When walking, sculling, climbing hills, swimming, riding a bike I can do without electronics. Why is erging so dependent on junk?

[Ombrax]

When walking, sculling, climbing hills, swimming, riding a bike I can do without electronics. Why is erging so dependent on junk?

Or course you can erg without any data from the unit, but like a bicycle, sometimes it's nice to know how far and how fast you rode. And since improving your performance is a great motivator to do even more, being able to say "When I first started it took me 9 minutes to do 2k, now I can do it in 7:45, and I'm hoping to get to 7:30 by the end of the year" is always beneficial.

[mict450]

Technology evolves & we become accustomed to more & more data. Some of you older fellas remember Kenneth Cooper & his Aerobics book that came out in the late '60's. The metrics used were simple & consisted of distance & time only. The faster you went per distance, the more points you accumulated. You had to accumulate a certain number of points per week to be considered fit.

Laurence Moorehouse was the first I recall that used HR as a means of measuring intensity. Wasn't his books published in the '70's? Then I think Polar came out with there first HRM's soon after.

From there, tech kept increasing in leaps & bounds. The longer I live, the more & more I'm drawn to the KISS principle

Been incorporating Stu's MO of erging with eyes closed. Yes, I wear my HRM, but it doesn't govern my intensity. I merely go by feel. It's interesting to note that SS using Stu's technique my HR is below my UT2 zone & is more in line with Phil Maffetone's zone. Don't know how this will affect my fitness, but I like the feeling. Reminds me of my younger days of ocean swimming & reaching a state of zen-like awareness. My body was a machine & "I" was merely along for the ride. A very, very pleasurable feeling, I assure you.

[Dangerscouse]

Been incorporating Stu's MO of erging with eyes closed. Yes, I wear my HRM, but it doesn't govern my intensity. I merely go by feel. It's interesting to note that SS using Stu's technique my HR is below my UT2 zone & is more in line with Phil Maffetone's zone. Don't know how this will affect my fitness, but I like the feeling. Reminds me of my younger days of ocean swimming & reaching a state of zen-like awareness. My body was a machine & "I" was merely along for the ride. A very, very pleasurable feeling, I assure you.

Good to read this Eric. I'm not sure, mainly as I don't know anyone else that does it, but i suspect it's great for your fitness as your mind is working in sync, rather than wasting energy in battling itself.

It looks easier than it would do normally as the HR is lower due to the decreased stress, but as long as you keep a level that you naturally gravitate towards my suspicion is that this will be the Goldilocks zone, if you're well trained and adapted to a specific level of effort.

As you say the eustress benefits are tangible and it (usually) feels great afterwards. It's a different type of feeling and effort which is hard to explain. Subtle bit different.